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He's back! Rafael Nadal posts clay-court training video

The Spaniard has been sidelined since the Australian Open due to injury, but posted an encouraging update on social media.

ByVictoria Chiesa

Published Mar 11, 2023

FLASHBACK: The Spaniard was hampered by injury in a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open.

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He might not be in #TennisParadise, but Rafael Nadal is getting ready for his beloved terre battue.

The 22-time major champion had tennis fans buzzing on Saturday when he posted a video of him training on his Instagram account, his first on-court action for the outside world since he was beaten by American Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the Australian Open.

Nadal suffered a Grade 2 injury in the iliopsoas of his left leg in that match, and announced on social media shortly afterwards that he'd be sidelined for six to eight weeks. In a subsequent social media update on Feb. 28, Nadal announced his withdrawal from Indian Wells and Miami, but that he was looking forward to getting back in action.

"Took my time off, started rehab, gym and physiotherapy as instructed by the doctors," he wrote then. "Getting ready to come back the in the best conditions."

Now, it seems he has.

In the short clip, Nadal can be seen hitting groundstrokes on an indoor clay court, before finishing the practice point off with a feathery forehand slice.

Due to his injury hiatus, Nadal is projected to fall out of the Top 10 of the ATP rankings for the first time since 2005 when the BNP Paribas Open concludes. But expected to return for his favorite part of the tennis calendar, he likely won't be for long.